Just
when things were looking bright for Smith under a new and familiar head
coach, with a potential new contract being discussed, and a positive
fresh start after a tough year that ended without a playoff berth, his
career derailed once more.
He lost his livelihood.
This time, it's unclear when and if he can recover.
"We're not worried about football," an emotional coach Jim Tomsula said, "it has nothing to do with football."
The
Niners released Smith on Friday, a day after his arrest by Santa Clara
police on suspicion of drunken driving, hit and run and vandalism for
his fifth run-in with the law since he arrived in the Bay Area as a
first-round draft pick in 2011. He was dismissed only three days after
general manager Trent Baalke praised Smith's growth and spoke of
re-signing him for next season with his contract year approaching.
Early
in training camp, the 49ers took yet another tough blow following the
departures and early retirements of several prominent players during a
tumultuous offseason — fellow linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris
Borland walked away from football.
"It's tough," safety Antoine
Bethea said. "We've got to keep rolling. Next man up, whoever that may
be, they've got to come in, they've got to step in, they've got to play
well. Aldon, as we all know, when he's on the field he's something to
reckon with."
Baalke and Tomsula informed Smith of the decision at team headquarters Friday after he left jail.
"It's a sad day," Tomsula said. "Guys care about him, we care about that guy, deeply."
Smith was arrested Thursday night on a day off from practice for players.
Smith
had said when camp began he was healthy and in great shape, "ready to
go." While he is free to sign with any team, not needing to go through
waivers, he likely would first face another lengthy NFL suspension.
He
missed the first nine games of 2014 serving an NFL suspension for
violations of the league's substance-abuse and personal-conduct
policies.
Police said Friday that at 8:46 p.m., Smith collided
with a parked vehicle while parking his car, then caused further damage
to the parked vehicle with his car door. The scene was only a couple of
miles from team headquarters, at or on the street of Smith's luxury
apartment complex.
Authorities said Smith left without reporting
the collision or providing any identifying information. He later
returned to and was contacted by officers. Smith displayed "objective
symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage" and
officers conducted a field sobriety test, police said.
"Although
he won't be playing football for the San Francisco 49ers, he will be
supported and helped, and he will not have to walk this path alone,"
Tomsula said.
Smith denied he was driving under the influence
during a brief interview with a local television station before
Tomsula's news conference.
"Justice will be served, the truth will
come out," Smith told KTVU Fox 2 as he walked out of jail. "There's no
DUI. ... I want everybody to understand the situation that happened
could have been handled differently."
Broncos linebacker Von
Miller, who went No. 2 overall in the 2011 draft five spots ahead of
Smith, offered his support. The two became acquainted leading up to
draft day that year, and Miller has had his own problems that led to a
six-game suspension to start the 2013 season for violating the league's
substance abuse policy.
"That's my guy. I'm going to be with him
until the very end," Miller said. "We're friends before everything else.
That's my brother. He's going through some tough times right now. I'm
going to be the same Von that I was before. He was there for me. And I'm
going to be there for him, no matter what that may be."
The
25-year-old Smith missed time during the 2013 season to undergo
treatment at an inpatient facility following his DUI arrest on Sept. 20
that year. Later in the year, he pleaded not guilty to three felony
counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon, stemming from a June
2012 party at his home.
Smith was arrested on April 13, 2014, at
Los Angeles International Airport. Police said Smith was randomly
selected for a secondary screening and became uncooperative with the
process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. No charges were filed.
San
Francisco has had 12 arrests or charges filed involving seven players
since January 2012, prompting owner Jed York to promise the team would
"win with class." The Niners released defensive tackle Ray McDonald late
last season for his off-field problems.
"If one person out there
reads this and you're struggling, get help," Tomsula said emphatically.
"Go get it. You're worth it. There's value in every human being. Get the
help. You don't have to walk alone. Find it, it's there."
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